Pasta, Noodles & Rice

The 5:2 lifestyle comes in a range of varieties. The original was 500 calories for women and 600 calories for men on 2 non-consecutive fast days a week. Dr. Michael Mosley has recently revised this to 800 calories as almost as effective and more achievable for some people. There is also a potential split between […]

I had a spectacularly long day at uni today, followed by picking up the kids from the various people I had begged favours from. So by the time we got home, it was much later than it should have been. I had dinner on the table precisely 20 minutes after I walked in the door. […]

Life in the Kitchen Playground is awfully short of play these days. The Ankle Biters are nibbling closer to shoulder height and full of homework, sporting activities and unstructured fun with friends. The Bread Winner is working as hard as ever. Me? I’m Mum’s taxi, working two part time jobs and studying full time. Oh […]

Delicious little morsels, perfect for finger food or piling into lunch boxes. Very bento friendly. Just in case you were wondering, the recent lack of photos is a gesture of disgust at the hideous lighting in my hideous house. Photography will resume when the house has been demolished. Which will happen soon should the universe […]

This would easily serve 6 – 8. The accompaniments are essential, the rice and lentils alone would be far too bland. Besides, lots of little dishes on the table to help yourself from is always fun. Whilst there are lots of ingredients, it’s quite quick and easy to throw together. Adapted from a Charmaine Solomon […]

Ahh Vietnamese food. It never fails to delight. Never. Every dish was hungrily gobbled and loudly praised this evening. The soup was magical. My love for pho is not unknown but I simply did not have the time to make the stock. I’ve found my quick substitute soup. The beef and Vietnamese coriander soup is […]

After a night out of the kitchen last night, today we resumed our world tour. Tonight’s top, Thailand. First Born has identified it on the map, read a book about it, drawn the flag and listed similarities between Japan and Thailand. I hope he always loves learning this much. And in such a self directed […]

I’m such a creature of habit in my old age. Changes to my routine, particularly where food is concerned tend leave me a little disoriented. Having to complete a 24 hour training course at work in 2 days and one evening last weekend thoroughly discombobulated me. No farmers market! Fortunately I had stocked up as […]

Being Sunday, it’s First Born’s turn to cook. Tonight, he has whipped up a broad bean and feta risotto in the thermomix. I can’t say it often enough, the thermomix is absolutely brilliant for teaching children to cook. The risotto was fantastic and First Born was very proud of himself. As well he should be. […]

At the very start of winter, I made a massive big pot of minestrone, or what passes for it in this house, I don’t stick to a traditional recipe. This week, we finished it. So today I made another pot. When I say massive, I am referring to my industrial size stock pot, the capacity […]